Republicans have had a mixed reaction to Donald Trump becoming their presumptive presidential nominee.
Some have preferred to avoid the topic altogether or issue pro forma declarations of support for the party’s nominee, while others have given more full-throated endorsements or even said he’d make a great president.
Here’s a list of what 28 Republicans had to say, ranked on a scale from “Sad!” to “Yuuge” based on their level of support.
Jeb Bush
Former Florida Governor and 2016 presidential candidate
“Donald Trump has not demonstrated that temperament or strength of character. He has not displayed a respect for the Constitution. And, he is not a consistent conservative. These are all reasons why I cannot support his candidacy.” (May 6)
Rating: Sad!
Lindsey Graham
U.S. Senator from South Carolina and former 2016 presidential candidate
“I just really believe that the Republican Party has been conned here, and this guy is not a reliable conservative Republican.” (May 6)
Rating: Sad!
Mitt Romney
Former Governor of Massachusetts and 2012 Republican presidential nominee
“I see way too much demagoguery and populism on both sides of the aisle and I only hope and aspire that we’ll see more greatness. … I don’t intend on supporting either of the major party candidates at this point.” (May 5)
Rating: Sad!
George W. Bush
43rd President of the United States
A spokesman for Bush said “[he] does not plan to participate in or comment on the presidential campaign.” (May 4)
Rating: Sad!
Ted Cruz
U.S. Senator from Texas and former 2016 presidential candidate
“The voters in the primary seem to have made a choice. We’ll see what happens as the months go forward, I think we need to watch and see what the candidates say and do.” (May 10)
Rating: Sad!
Tom Ridge
Former Governor of Pennsylvania and Congressman
“With a bumper sticker approach to policy, his bombastic tone reflects the traits of a bully, not an American president and statesman. If he cannot unite Republicans, how can he unite America? I simply cannot endorse him.”
Rating: Sad!
Paul Ryan
Speaker of the House and 2012 vice presidential nominee.
“I’m just not ready to do that at this point. I’m not there right now.” (May 5)
Rating: Sad!
Dick Cheney
Former Vice President of the United States
Cheney told CNN he would support Trump as the nominee but previously called the New Yorker a “liberal Democrat.” (May 6)
Rating: Low energy
Kelly Ayotte
U.S. Senator from New Hampshire
Said she would support the nominee, but would not endorse Trump “as a candidate herself.” (May 5)
Rating: Low energy
Marco Rubio
U.S. Senator from Florida and former 2016 presidential candidate
“I don’t see myself as the guy who’s going to spend the next six months taking shots at him,” Rubio said, adding that he “respects” and “accepts” Trump’s nomination by Republican primary voters. “That’s not going to change the reservations I have about this campaign.” (May 10)
Rating: Low energy
Bobby Jindal
Former Governor of Louisiana and former 2016 presidential candidate
“I do not pretend Donald Trump is the Reaganesque leader we so desperately need, but he is certainly the better of two bad choices.” (May 8)
Rating: Low energy
Pat Toomey
U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania
“Donald Trump was not my first choice. He wasn’t my second choice or third or fourth choice. I have lots of differences with Donald Trump and lots of problems with him but I am absolutely in the ‘never Hillary Clinton’ camp.” (May 4)
Rating: Low energy
Lisa Murkowski
U.S. Senator from Alaska
“I have always supported the Republican nominee for president. Elections are about choices and while Hillary Clinton is not my choice—with her clear record against Alaska’s priorities—Donald Trump has made numerous inappropriate statements in the past that are troubling. Now, he needs to shift his focus to unite Republicans around conservative policies that will bring economic growth and prosperity back to our nation.” (May 4)
Rating: Low energy
John McCain
U.S. Senator from Arizona and 2008 Republican presidential nominee
“You have to listen to people that have chosen the nominee of our Republican Party,” McCain said. “I think it would be foolish to ignore them.” (May 9)
Rating: Classy
Nikki Haley
South Carolina Governor
“I have great respect for the will of the people, and as I have always said, I will support the Republican nominee for president.” (May 4)
Rating: Classy
Mitch McConnell
Senate Majority Leader
“I have committed to supporting the nominee chosen by Republican voters, and Donald Trump, the presumptive nominee, is now on the verge of clinching that nomination.” (May 4)
Rating: Classy
Reince Priebus
Chairman of the Republican National Committee
“Donald Trump will be presumptive GOP nominee, we all need to unite and focus on defeating Hillary Clinton,” Priebus wrote in a tweet following Trump’s win in Indiana. (May 3)
Rating: Classy
Pete Ricketts
Governor of Nebraska
“I will support the nominee of our party, and it looks like the nominee is going to be Donald Trump.” (May 4)
Rating: Classy
Rand Paul
U.S. Senator from Kentucky and former GOP presidential candidate
“You know, I’ve always said I’ll endorse the nominee,” “To me it’s most important that people know that, for Kentucky, the Clinton’s will be terrible.” (May 5)
Rating: Classy
Rick Perry
Former Governor of Texas and 2016 presidential candidate
“He wasn’t my first choice, wasn’t my second choice, but he is the people’s choice,” Perry said. “He is not a perfect man. But what I do believe is that he loves this country and he will surround himself with capable, experienced people and he will listen to them.” (May 5)
Rating: Classy
Mike Huckabee
Former Governor of Arkansas and 2016 Republican presidential candidate
Huckabee recently said the billionaire was Hillary Clinton’s “worst nightmare.” “Everybody said Donald Trump wouldn’t come, they said he couldn’t get past August or the early controversies, I’m sitting as a candidate, ‘Well you know what, he won’t last long’ — well, he’s outlasted all of us and I think they’re gonna underestimate Donald Trump’s candidacy at their own peril.” (May 15)
Rating: Very, very strong.
John Boehner
Former House Speaker
Boehner said the two are “texting buddies” and that he would vote Trump in November.
Rating: Very, very strong
Bob Dole
Former U.S. Senator from Kansas and 1996 Republican presidential nominee
“The voters of our country have turned out in record numbers to support Mr. Trump. It is important that their votes be honored and it is time that we support the party’s presumptive nominee, Donald J. Trump.” (May 5)
Rating: Very, very strong
Mike Pence
Governor of Indiana
“I’m fully supportive of our presumptive nominee, and I do think Donald Trump will do well in the State of Indiana. I’m going to campaign hard for the Republican nominee because Indiana needs a partner in the White House.” (May 6)
Rating: Very, very strong
Paul LePage
Governor of Maine
“I think he could be one of the greatest presidents if he sits down and puts together a good team.” (Feb. 26)
Ranking: Yuuge
Rick Scott
Governor of Florida
“The voters are speaking clearly—they want a businessman outsider who will dramatically shake up the status quo in Washington.” (March 16)
Rating: Yuuge
Chris Christie
Governor of New Jersey
“There is no one who is better prepared to provide America with the strong leadership that it needs both at home and around the world than Donald Trump.” (Feb. 26)
Rating: Yuuge
Jeff Sessions
U.S. Senator from Alabama
“I can tell you one thing, I think at this time in my opinion, my best judgment, at this time in America’s history, we need to make America great again!” (Feb. 28)
Rating: Yuuge
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